Buying or Selling a Home/Shared driveway

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/6/2010


Question
I own a home which has a shared driveway with my neighbor. I am pretty sure per my deed that it is on my property and they have easement rights or at least this is what I was told when I bought the home.
My neighbors guests park in the driveway often not allowing me access to my driveway.  I have to sit outside and beep my horn for them to move their car or knock on door to get them to move it.  I pay high mortgage to live in my home and want and expect to be able to get in and out of my driveway.
What are my rights?  Is this something I need to go to the town about?  

Thank you!!
Tricia

Answer
Hi Tricia;
Since your property granted a legal easement to the neighbors for the use of the driveway, the only thing I would suggest that you do is to post a sign that says; "Shared driveway do not block!"  I am sure that your neighbor's guests do not understand this and would not have any way of knowing that they might be blocking your access but a sign will eliminate this problem.  I would also suggest that you talk to the neighbors in a friendly way about this first and let them know what you are contemplating.  Perhaps they will agree to share in the cost of a sign since they will also benefit.  (After all...you might have guests who do the same thing to them.)

Best wishes,
Jessica Bryan

Buying or Selling a Home

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Jessica Bryan

Expertise

buying and selling process such as:
General questions from first time buyers
How to market a home
Why choose a REALTOR
How do I find a REALTOR
Should I consider buying or selling without a REALTOR--how much can I save
Should I remodel or move
How much can I expect to gain by fixing up my home before selling
Helpful tips when selling
Helpful tips when buying
finding a good mortgage loan
what is the difference between banks, mortgage bankers, and mortgage brokers
Questions from the general public, people thinking about getting their real estate license, newly licensed.
Fellow professionals who have interests in networking and how to get started
What is a market evaluation and how does it differ from an appraisal what are the different loan programs
services a REALTOR can perform
when to use a lawyer
when to use escrow
what are the regional differences in the buying and selling process
what is the MLS and how does it work
how can the layman access information on the web--listings and other information
These are just a few of the questions. I can suggest that if I am unable to answer a question I will refer the inquiry to a source that can.

Experience

Anyone who is in this business and who dedicates oneself to professionalism has continued to take classes and along with it,additional credentials, awards and honors. I can list a host of them, but my greatest accomplishments happen to be those of getting first time buyers (who didn't think they could afford to buy a home)into a home of their dreams. The look on their faces when I hand over the keys is worth all of the hard work.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.